2020-05-27 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Gaffney agreed, as the commission is basically set up to provide advice to both the Council and the administration. The commission’s outreach should be to both the administration and Council in equal shares. Sending the letter through the director would formalize their approach to the administration, and then sending it to the chair of the Agriculture, Water, Energy, and Environmental Management Committee would formalize it as a recommendation from them to the Council. The commissioners decided on sending a letter simultaneously to the director and Council rather than one before the other, in order to speed up the process. Commissioner Gaffney said his experience since being on the commission is that DEM is not thinking about anything other than continuing the process they’re undertaking. The latest changes to the Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant continue to show the sump being used in perpetuity, which is wrong. There is no attempt to do anything other than that. Numerous attempts have been made to get DEM to reach out to private operators here who have indicated an interest in assisting the county with wastewater management, but nothing has happened. The commission should approach the Council and administration on this matter and start the ball rolling. Roy Takemoto, the managing director, has been assigned the development of a water reuse plan but has been busy with the pandemic and cleaning up from the eruption. Research and Development should also be part of the process, but they are similarly busy and playing catch-up. However, this issue is a priority of the community and in particular, a priority of the commission. Chair Pequeño said Director Kucharski did indicate that the design of the Kealakehe R-1 upgrade is on hold pending the decision of the Supreme Court. However, he agrees that a letter to both the director and Council simultaneously would be effective. The others agreed. Chair Pequeño asked if Commissioner Fulton could withdraw and revise her motion. Motion revised, seconded, and vote: Commissioner Fulton revised her motion such that they send the letter simultaneously to Director Kucharski and the County Council. Commissioner Cardwell seconded the motion, and all commissioners voted aye. The commissioners discussed who would draft the letter. Motion, second, and vote: Commissioner Adams moved to establish a subcommittee consisting of Chair Pequeño and Commissioners Gaffney and Fulton to draft the letter. Commissioner Cardwell seconded the motion, and all commissioners voted aye. Chair Pequeño said the subcommittee will report back at the next meeting. He also suggested the commissioners check out the Sierra Club’s Facebook page, as it has a lot of information on the case and includes presentations by attorneys. 7